How to Safely Deliver a Baby in Case of Emergency

If you have a family member who is expecting a baby, it’s important to be prepared in case labor begins and progresses quickly and/or unexpectedly.

Knowing how to deliver a baby can help you feel prepared in case of an emergency.

This article goes over how to deliver a baby in the event of an emergency.

Go to the Hospital

As the uterus contracts to push the baby out of the birth canal, the mother will likely feel pain and pressure. When she feels labor progressing, especially if her water breaks, it's time to go to the hospital or call an ambulance. No matter how well this guide prepares you, it's always better to deliver with the help of a professional.

If you're cutting it close, call 911. If not, then you may be able to drive to the hospital. Either way, try to get to the Labor & Delivery ward as soon as possible.

Get Comfortable

If you're not able to go to the hospital right away, then the person who is in labor needs space. Get her some pillows and a spot on the floor. Put some clean sheets down so the baby doesn't touch the dirty floor. The laboring person can lay on her side until delivery. Prop up her back and support her during contractions.

The baby is going to be very slippery. Putting the mother on the floor makes sure the baby doesn't fall very far if you lose your grip.

Wash Your Hands

The baby will be born with a very weak immune system and is susceptible to infections. Follow universal precautions and wear personal protective equipment if you have it. Once you've washed your hands, do to touch anything but the mother, the baby, and the bedding.

Check for Crowning

As the cervix dilates, the baby's head moves down the birth canal and becomes visible. If you can see the baby's head, then birth is imminent.

You should be able to see the head clearly. If it is obscured by a membrane stretched across it, then pinch the membrane with clean hands and twist. The membrane is the amniotic sac, which should already have broken. If not, it will break easily when pinched and release the amniotic fluid. After that, things will move quickly.

Guide the Baby

Put your hand in front of the baby's head and let it come out slowly. Don't try to hold the baby back, but don't let it come quickly either.

The baby will slide out slowly in waves as the uterus contracts. As the baby comes out, it will turn to the side naturally. There is no need to try to force the baby or help it. Putting some gentle pressure on the base of the vagina near the perineum (the thin layer of skin between the vagina and anus) will help the baby's head pass.

Stop Pushing

Once the baby's head is out, the mother needs to stop pushing. Clean the baby's nose and mouth with a bulb syringe. If you don't have a bulb syringe, use a clean towel to wipe away fluid and membrane from the baby's airway.

If you see the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby's neck, try to slip the cord over the baby's head. This is important, but there is a possibility you will not be able to release the cord. If the cord won't go, deliver the baby anyway.

Guide the Shoulders

Do NOT pull on the baby, but guide its shoulders out, starting with the top shoulder. If there is difficulty, you can put pressure on the mother's abdomen just above the pubic bone to encourage the top shoulder to deliver.

Once the shoulders are out, the baby is going to slip right through. Hold on tight; the baby is slippery and will probably wiggle.

Wrap the Baby Up

Other than clearing the airway, the most important thing you can do for the baby is keep it warm. Cover them from head to toe, but leave the face open so the baby can breathe.

Deliver the Placenta

After the baby is delivered, the placenta will come. Don't try to force it or pull on the umbilical cord. The placenta will naturally deliver in about 10 or 15 minutes.

Get to the Hospital

Now that the baby has been delivered, it is time to get to the hospital. There are still some important steps to make sure that the baby and mother are fine. Those steps need to be performed at the hospital.

The placenta will still be attached to the newborn by the umbilical cord. Do not try to cut the cord yourself; it's best to let a healthcare provider do this with sterile clamps. Leave the placenta attached until you get to the hospital.

Summary

It is a good idea to know how to deliver a baby in case a pregnant person goes into labor suddenly or unexpectedly. If you have time to get to a hospital, though, it is always a safer option to have a healthcare provider deliver the baby.

If the baby is coming quickly, have the mother lie on a clean surface. Wash your hands and look for the baby's head. If the head is visible, there is no time to get to a hospital. Follow the steps to safely deliver the baby, then wrap it in a clean cloth, deliver the placenta, and get the mother and baby to the hospital as soon as possible.